NEW YORK – During the second inning of Sunday’s game with the New York Yankees, the Orioles announced that first baseman Travis Ishikawa had been claimed on waivers by New York.

The Orioles had tried for three weeks to keep Ishikawa away from the Yankees, who had been desperate for first base help though Lyle Overbay, who was 5-for-7 this series through his first at-bat on Sunday, has been playing there.

Ishikawa was designated for assignment on June 29 after batting .118 (2-for-17) in six games with the Orioles. He was signed last December as a minor league free agent and batted .316 at Norfolk.

He exercised his opt-out clause, and in order to prevent him from initially signing with New York, the Orioles purchased his contract on June 18.

The Orioles tried to peddle Ishikawa, but couldn’t work out a deal and now the 29-year-old Ishikawa goes to New York.

When he was designated for assignment, Ishikawa said:

“I guess we’ll find out in the next week if someone really was interested.”

NOTES: Manager Buck Showalter said that Wei-Yin Chen would pitch Tuesday or Wednesday against Texas. Showalter isn’t sure if he’s going send some pitchers to the minors to keep pitching during the All-Star break.